OXFORD, Miss. – Gov. Phil Bryant is scheduled to address members of the Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association next week at the University of Mississippi.
The address is part of a regular business meeting for MAMA, set for noon Monday (June 18) at the university’s Center for Manufacturing Excellence.
“We are delighted that the governor will join us during this time of growth that our association is making in northeast Mississippi,” said Kevin Logan, MAMA president and senior vice president of Unipres – Southeast in Forest. “As we look to expand our membership to include automotive manufacturing companies in northeast Mississippi, the Center for Manufacturing Excellence was the perfect location. We look forward to meeting our newest members and learning what the CME offers the industry.”The university is honored that the facility was selected for the meeting site, CME Director James Vaughan said.
“MAMA is well-recognized for being a leader in Mississippi manufacturing,” Vaughan said. “Working with leading industries involved with MAMA provides an excellent opportunity for the CME to be involved in moving Mississippi manufacturing to the next level and is necessary for the CME to fulfill its role in educating students in the areas of accountancy, business and engineering to produce manufacturing professionals.”
Logan and Bryant are to present the 2012 MAMA Award of Excellence to Toyota Blue Springs during the meeting. David Copenhaver, vice president of administration at Toyota BS, will accept the honor. Mississippi Development Authority Director Brent Christensen and UM Chancellor Dan Jones are also scheduled to attend.
“The award is presented annually to the company that supports the association’s mission,” Logan said. “MAMA was formed in 2004 to provide a forum for interaction among automotive manufacturing companies in Mississippi. The organization serves its members by promoting the growth, development and improvement of the automotive industry.”
MAMA’s priorities include being a problem-solver for the automotive industry, a scholarship provider (having awarded $61,000 to community college and university students over the past five years) and an economic development supporter for this new era for the Mississippi automotive industry.
For more information about the Center for Manufacturing Excellence, go to http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/cme/. For more information on MAMA, visit http://www.mamaonline.net.